Culture

Matt Starr occupies a unique space on the New York art scene. He rarely, if ever creates his work around the ‘gallery’ form, instead choosing a mix of performance and photography as his primary mediums, with themes so comical it borders on ‘meme’ art. It’s usually interactive and funny, but always rooted with social commentary. It’s often a challenge to extend that kind of intangible and droll work into the consciousness of art-industry types, but Starr continues to capture the attention of media and art brands, including his latest venture with Culture Corps.

While many of his peers were away in Miami, Starr was tapped by Culture Corps (Art Production Fund’s Doreen Remen and Yvonne Force) to create a 1 day rotating exhibit with luggage brand Raden at New York’s most prominent hotels. With only a small team of assistants, Starr brought colorful Raden luggage—enough suitcases to carry all the earthly possessions of multiple people—to hotels including The Plaza, The Standard, The Edition, and The Mandarin, creating a humorous spectacle that made passersby stop in their tracks. Starr even attempted to check into the hotels with the luggage in tow, which also had the labels ‘Fragile,’ ‘Very Fragile,’ and ‘Extremely Fragile,’ plastered on them. It all happened to take place on one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Cyber Monday, and beneath the surface Starr was challenging the ideas of conspicuous consumption that drive the country into a frenzy every holiday season. We reached out to Starr to learn more about the ideas behind this quirky performance.

How did this performance change from Amazon Boy, which dealt with similar topics of consumption?

Amazon boy was about going somewhere and this most recent project is about waiting. Both are about being.

What made you choose hotels as the platform for the performance?

Hotels are interesting spaces. They’re very liminal. They’re inviting and exclusionary at the same time. When I team up with companies to make art, I’m not interested in making objects for one to costume passively. I always want to set up a situation or experience for people to engage with. It’s more interesting for me and everyone else involved. Since I partnered with Raden (the luggage company), hotels made the most sense. I thought about doing something at JFK or LaGuardia but was afraid of being mistaken for a terrorist and shot.

It seems that while millennials prioritize experiences over products, there’s also an increase in materialistic tendencies. Do you feel that this performance fits between those opposing ideas?

Totally. I think everyone is interested in spectacles, whether they like what they’re seeing or not. People are programmed to notice the ‘thing’ that stands out. I like being that thing. And I like using the banal objects that most people take for granted (i.e. Amazon boxes, luggage, baby clothes, etc.)

What were the reactions like from onlookers? What about the reactions from the hotels?

Onlookers were shocked. Most couldn’t fathom what was in the suitcases. They wanted to take pictures and know what was inside. A handful asked to take the luggage with them.

Hotels were annoyed. Some had mixed reactions.

The Plaza for example, was very warm and kind at first. After a while they made it clear there wasn’t enough room for all my luggage. I was pretty shocked how helpful they were being. They offered me a complementary drink and let me and my handlers take everything inside to a safe spot, but as soon as I realized I was at the wrong hotel they became cold and removed. People kept taking photos of me which they didn’t like. They thought it was a stunt.

At the Mandarin, we were shooed away immediately. We barely unloaded all the luggage before the general manager came out and asked us to not block any signage and take the luggage and go. It was early in the morning, so I don’t blame them. I should’ve have offered the door men some coffee.

The Standard was warm and welcoming, asking to take pictures with the suitcases.

None of the reactions surprised me. All were very telling of them and what the expectations of their guests are.

Your performances are a bit playful, but underneath the surface you’re looking at society and social behaviors…is your outlook optimistic?

I’m only concerned with creating an experience for everyone (all demographics). It doesn’t have to make sense and most of the time it doesn’t. My performances are dealing with normal people doing relatively normal things, just a bit exaggerated, which force people to pay a little bit more attention than they typically would to their behavior and those around them. So yeah, optimistic.

Art Basel Miami Beach 2016 has come to an end, and as the everyone settles back into their daily routines, they have all the photographic evidence they need to recall the wild week. In one of the most memorable Basel week of the last few years, there was everything from NYC club pop-ups to gorgeous art installations. Performances ranged from Madonna to Gucci Mane, venues were transformed with neon lights or ‘gardens of Eden,’ and of course there was a steady stream of eye candy with people like A$AP Rocky, Adrianna Lima, Emily Ratajkowski, and many more. Here are some of our favorite highlights from one of the best events of the year.

Next week art lovers from all over the world will descend upon Miami for Art Basel 2016. It’s one of the biggest celebrations of art all year, and a place to check out some of the most famous artwork alongside burgeoning new talents. But it’s also one of the best party destinations to close out the year. We’ve compiled some of the events we’re most excited for, so grab your sunglasses and find us in Miami Beach!

Check back for updates throughout the week!

Whole Glory – Starting in New York Scott Campbell began a series of interactive tattoo exhibits, where visitors were selected by a lottery to put their hand through a wall and get a blind tattoo by Campbell himself. Now, in collaboration with Milk Studios, he brings the latest installment of Whole Glory to ABMB.

Where: 2400 NW 5th Avenue

When: 12/1 – 12/2

Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Finale – Bombay Sapphire and Russell & Danny Simmons are hosting the series finale of their Artisan Series, where they will select a winner. Jermaine Dupri will perform a set.

Where: 11 11 Lincoln Road

When: 12/1, 8:30pm

L’Eden by Perrier-Jouët – Perrier-Jouët is hosting a 3-day pop-up with Simon Hammerstein, known for his immersive NYC theatrical offerings at The Box and Queen of the Night. Invite Only

Where: Faena House, 3315 Collins Avenue

When: 11/29 – 12/1

Take-Two Miami Beach Kickoff Party – Following a discussion panel,one of the companies behind gaming titles like Grand Theft Auto and NBA 2K will bring together gaming, music and art with an after-party featuring Virgil Abloh, Chelsea Leyland, and Kitty Cash.

Alexis Gideon: The Comet and The Glacier Cocktail Reception – Alexis Gideon presents his first large-scale exhibition at the not-for-profit Locust Projects alongside art by HUFFER Collective and Katie Bell.

Where: 3852 North Miami Avenue

When: 11/29, 7pm

Charity Gala at the Shore Club – Daniel Staford debuts a new piece titled Rihanna “Sacred Vision” at this invite-only gala benefitting Michelle Tidor for Kids. There will also be a new unveiling of a Kim Kardashian ‘Uncensored’ portrait. Invite Only

Where: Shore Club, 1901 Collins Avenue

When: 12/2, 8pm

The Basement at The Miami Beach EDITION – The Basement follows the Pink Party kick-off with one of the best lineups at Basel, including two of the most famous DJs in the world, Theo Parrish and DJ Harvey.

Where: The Miami Beach EDITION, 2901 Collins Avenue

When: 11/30 – Theo Parrish

12/01 – Bedouin, LUM, Oceanvs Orientalis

12/02 – “A Very Special Surprise After Party”

12/03 – DJ Harvey

1800 x Billboard “In Focus” Photography Exhibit – An exhibit of original hip-hop photography including works by Cam Kirk, Gunner Stahl, and Placed + Faces. An after-party with Rae Sremmurd will follow.

Where: Up&Down at The Nautilus, 1825 Collins Avenue

When: 12/2, 8pm

Up&Down Pop-up – NYC staple Up&Down is hosting a 4-day pop-up at the Nautilus, and like its Manhattan counterpart, expect surprise performances.

Where: Nautilus, 1825 Collins Avenue

When: 11/29 – 12/3

Silencio 5 Year Anniversary – David Lynch’s Paris club Silencio celebrates 5 years with a party during Art Basel, featuring an art instillation and performance by Michelle Lamy, as well as a musical performance by A$AP Rocky. Invite Only

Where: Palm Court Event Space, 140 NE 39th SStreet

When: 12/2, 9pm

ORA Grand Opening – The new Miami club ORA has a 3 day opening lineup featuring:

The Webster x Enoc Perez Launch – The Webster will unveil its new collaboration with Enoc Perez with a private launch party, debuting tote bags, art prints, and a special collaboration with Bamford Watch Department. Invite Only

Where: The Webster, 1220 Collins Avenue, 2nd Floor

When: 12/1, 3pm

Ivy x Art Basel – Ivy is hosting a cocktail party celebrating the popular painter Bradley Theodore at the newly opened Nobu Hotel.

As much as we encourage discovering boutique hotels here at A Hotel Life, we also emphasize traveling, exploring, and discovering the off beaten paths that make each destination wonderfully unique. Steven Rojas has been an eager supporter of that mission as well. Having spent most of his adult life working in hospitality, he too appreciates the communal spirit of a great hotel. But he’s spent the better part of the last couple of years documenting his adventures outside of the city, getting in touch with nature and exploring parts unknown. At a time when people are re-examining their relationship with technology and prioritizing ‘experiences’ above all, we talked to Rojas about embodying this desired idea of the modern adventurer.

Rojas was joined by Paige Steele and Zelda Rojas during the interview, and shares most of his adventures with both.

You’ve been engaged with all of city culture for years, what got you suddenly interested in the outdoors?

I’ve always been into the outdoors. I’ve been into the outdoors since I was a little kid, my parents were into the outdoors. I’ve always been into it because my mom was into it, I just took it more seriously. Either I got older or the city got more boring, or a combination of both. What was your most recent adventure?

I applied to this NASA program [to attend and photograph the launch of Osiris Rex], they only accept a handful of people, and I got lucky. Scribner’s just opened in Hudson Valley…awesome hotel. They’re all amazing people, I just don’t want it to get overrun by douch-y New Yorkers (laughs). For New Yorkers like yourself looking for weekend getaways, what are your best recommendations?

Paige:We went to Minnewaska state park and we did the ice caves.

It’s easy, one of the easier ones. My go to with everyone is I’ll tell them to wake up early, drive to Phoenicia and have breakfast at Phoenicia Diner. When they’re done with breakfast to drive over to Kaaterskill Falls and do the hike up to the top, and when they’re done there get lunch at Mama’s Boy, and then from there head over to Hunter Mountain. You can do zip-lining, go hiking, or snowboarding if there’s snow. There’s a new brewery over there, if you’re a beer person. Then you can go across the street and have dinner at Scribner’s and have a cocktail. Stay the night if you want.

Or you can go to Hudson Valley, more Hudson Town, and stay at Rivertown Lodge which is run by Ray Pirkle. The restaurant I like over there is Fish & Gain, and the breakfast spot is Bonfiglio. How do you get your fix when you’re stuck in the city?

If it’s a warm day you go rock climbing under the Brooklyn Bridge at The Cliffs, if you want to do indoor climbing you can do Brooklyn Boulders, or The Cliffs in Long Island City. The park is free, anyone can go to Central Park and go for a good long run. 6 miles all the way around. You can always go to Chelsea Piers as well.

As someone who works in hospitality, what do you look for in places to stay? Especially considering these quaint locations probably don’t have fancy hotels…

We’ve had good and bad experiences. There’s a teepee in Woodstock, there’s a guy who rents out his teepee in his backyard, next to a river.

Paige: We stay everywhere from a teepee to literally a Motel 6 on the side of a highway 4 hours north of the city.

If you’re going to live the true #camplife, #glampinglife, #tinyhomes, hashtag whatever these millennials are coming up with…in the back of the Jeep we have tents, sleeping bags, hammocks. We’ve slept in the car, one night we had an Airbnb so bad, SO bad that we slept in the car in its garage outside. It was freezing.

The latest thing is Mandy Coon and Peter Miszuk’s place. They have a tiny house they built for people to rent out in Black Swan Lake.

As nature photography is getting bigger, your photos has received a lot of attention, and you even exhibited for the first time last week. Was that a goal of yours?

I would do this even if I didn’t know how to work a camera. I’m not doing this to show off. I don’t think people should worry about what they’re doing for other people. You don’t like the same things you liked 2 years ago, but it happens to be that the things you like now other people like. You think it’s a coincidence? It’s a natural progression. What’s on your trip wishlist?

Nepal, I was meant to go to Everest. I’m just going to trek from Nepal and go to base camp 1. Iceland, we’re going to sneak over there for a bit. We’re going to Puerto Rico in a couple weeks. Big White Vancouver. Yosemite, I’ve always wanted to go there. Big Sur is amazing, I reccomemend it.

In the last year, Anouk Colantoni has transformed her passion for illustration into a creative platform. Her self expression through sensual, sweet, and quirky caricatures capture the feelings of a young woman in a big city, and led to her first solo exhibit at Wallplay and commissions from major brands. Recently Colantoni was tapped by the Beekman Hotel ahead of their long-awaited opening, to capture the spirit of the famed building in the way she knows best.

What did you aim to capture about the hotel and the space?

I aimed to capture the romance of the The Beekman. The Beekman’s intricate and intelligent structure, has remained steadfast as New York City has morphed and modernized around it; and has truly stood the test of time. The details from the Gothic dragon iron, to the storybook-like turrets – tell a tale of times in New York come and gone. The beautiful, luxurious new comforts and finishings invite you in to stay and make your own moment New York history in such a special way – I was lucky enough to be invited in before the doors reopened to take creative license in visualizing and expressing the richness of the details in the iconic rooms.

What was your favorite part of the hotel?

The Turret suites with their own personal rooftop gardens are my favorite spaces in the hotel.. There are two of them, they are filled with one of a kind art, restored architecture and luxurious clawfoot baths, views of Downtown New York like no other – I would like to live like The Little Princess in there is my dream!

I adore the cast iron dragons, a symbol of wisdom and longevity, and the features of a Renaissance Revival glass ceiling and built from granite, red Philadelphia brick and tan Dorchester stone.

Did you learn anything new about New York from doing this project?

As a French/Australian artist living here in New York, I feel like I knew nothing before I researched this project! I came to this project as a lover of the city today, and then delved so deeply into the city’s past allowed me to somehow become a part of it, to feel like I have some understanding of the energy that exists only here. It gave me also a great cultural overview of what was going on across America and the world at large over the past 120 years – the city being the home to some of the greatest musical movements – the Jazz Age – home to literary giants I love – Poe, Ginsberg – and learning about the history of all the iconic Art Deco buildings that raced up to make the city sky line that I love.

What was the most interesting thing you discovered about the building itself?

I marvel at how this one steadfast structure has constantly transformed itself and invited so many new inhabitants over the years to create great things within its walls, from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Broadway Journal which was first made in the building in 1845, to the fact it housed lawyers, architects and advertising agencies – how it rose again after a huge fire and after over 60 years being uninhabited, to burst back to life as this new luxurious hotel… wild!

What are you most looking forward to at the hotel…Keith McNally’s restaurant opens this week!

Oh yes sir – I am all about the opening of Augustine, the latest of McNally’s restaurants to open – Ill be in a booth or at the bar for a Kir Royale (yes, I think I’m in the ’70s) and some oysters, tout de suite!

Check out Anouk’s newest mural at The Flowershop later this month, and pick up her prints right HERE

As much as we encourage travel on this site, there are many moments when we can only be wishful about our desired adventures. During these times, there’s nothing else we can turn to other than films, which we can count on to transport us and give us a sense of fantasy. And while a rainy weekend at home is the time you’re most in need of a transporting effect, these films might just give you the motivation to buy a plane ticket and create your own story.

On Friday André Saraiva is debuting an Azulejos (Portugese ceramic tile) mural in Lisbon, where the artist has spent the better part of the last year. It’s the biggest of its kind, and possibly the most complete work in his prolific career (he referred to it as his Sistine Chapel), covering all of the styles we’re used to seeing. Ahead of the unveiling of this opus, we looked at the influence of Saraiva across art, fashion, and hospitality. While his creative output extends to everything from pop-up clubs with Paul Sevigny to sock collaborations, we picked our favorite ways to experience Saraiva’s aesthetic:

In a densely populated neighborhood of Bangkok, a community comes together to make use of what was otherwise considered unusable spaces, fostering creativity & morale. Check out these “Unusual Football Fields.”

Only two things excite me to get out of bed before a full night’s sleep: flights and sunrise parties. When the two erupt as the product of a brilliant idea had by a St Martin adoptee named Julian Prince, you can’t help but feel lucky to be part of it. SX Music Festival, which debuted this past week in the island of St Martin, may just have hit the nail on the head in terms of giving people reasons for not sleeping while simultaneously experiencing the magic of island life. Our culture of skepticism has ingrained suspicion in our brains, to the point that hearing the word festival may be the main source of discouragement for actually taking that flight to paradise. In this case, conforming to the idea paid off and I can say that SX was the epitome of what a destination festival should be.

Landing over a beach full of swimmers waving hello was a good sight from my window seat, but the better sight was really on land as we drove past casinos, nightclubs, dilapidated colonial homes, and shipwrecks. Locals seemed to be alarmed by the sudden traffic influx but I could not complain. I was getting to see this place in slow motion. The Dutch and French dichotomy could not be more evident; the island is divided in half and the scenery changes by the mile, as if you really were in two different worlds. An eclectic mix of Brits, Kiwis, South Africans, French, and Italians added flair to this traffic jam, each plugging in their own USB cords to the taxis soundsystem to show the other their DJ knowledge.

Locals stood cross-armed on the side of the road, as if watching a parade go by. You can’t help but wonder the impact foreign investment has on small communities such as this, I am sure they were waiting on their own piece of the cake. The first day did see a small wave of protests and road blockings but after conversing with one of the lead activists I understood that their frustration came from infrastructural issues, rooted in the local politics. They were happy to have us.

Upon arriving to our first venue, the Mercure Hotel, music was already flowing and the sight of many familiar faces reassured me that I was in good hands. With uninterrupted views of the sea from my room and a supply of costumes to last all week, this felt like the playa during a mirage. The burner-like energy only increased as the days went by, we all endured the weather like warriors on a mayan art car even as torrential rain forced everyone to dance under a communal tarp at the beach. No bad weather was going to stop a sea of party professionals. Group effort towards shelter Improvisation only made the bonding experience more special and I can say many of us left as good friends.

As we hopped from one venue to the other on shuttles running on island time, arriving was a big part of the experience. St Martin is small but still quite spread out, making getting out of bed for Lee Burridge and Yokoo’s sunrise a mandatory group effort. After my 5th wake up call I managed to get up, joining the party people on a walk in the dark for the a breakfast cocktail on the beach, as the beats became one with the sounds of the ocean and we all looked around to say our thanks to life.

First year festivals take many risks, including staying in the once upon a time category. Yet, SX Music did more than just throw a party, it made clever use of the island’s resources and natural beauty to enhance every single person’s experience. I am a firm believer that many of us will be coming back for more and that St Martin may just have become the perfect alternative to over saturated festival destinations.

Jungles In Paris explores the only remaining single-chair ski lift in the United States is in central Vermont, at a no-frills mountain called Mad River Glen. Check out the full story and more from Jungles in Paris here.

Because we want you to have the best travel year yet and because it’s a big world out there, we have compiled our top destinations for 2016 to help you #travellikeyoumeanit

From Nashville’s booming culinary scene to the unique landscapes of the Atacama Desert in Chile, our editors have their eyes and ears on destinations that will make 2016 purely epic. Get ready to have your mind blown.

This past October, I had the opportunity to do something out of the ordinary. I got to pack lightly and explore a place unknown. Not necessarily a new country or city, but discovering the magic of somewhere quite near. No itinerary, no expectations, the only thing we brought with us was good intentions and a sense of adventure.

Imagine if concierge advice was as exclusive as your hotel choice. This new app is about to change the way we get travel advice by providing curated, insider content that drives incredible experiences (rather than sending you to the restaurant down the street).

MUTEK MX, the iconic International Festival dedicated to the expression of creativity in audiovisual arts and sound, took place this past weekend in Mexico City. The eclectic curation featured some of the most visionary and original artists in the electronic music and visual/tech world with Tale of Us, Voices from the Lake and DJ Koze, among the highlights. Each event was exquisitely programmed to give attendees a transformational experience, where music flowed through areas with mind-blowing visual installations to give extra depth to the dance floor. Among the overwhelming dance landscape, it’s impossible to forego the audiovisual performances of talents such as Paul Prudence, who focuses on the ways in which sound, space and form can be cross-wired to create live cinematic visual travels. From the reclined seats of a historical dome, we were transported to a universe of colors, lights and machines just to be released an hour later into the peaceful landscapes of the Chapultepec gardens. Although MUTEK also takes place in Montreal, Barcelona, and Bogotá, you can count on Mexico City and its gorgeous surroundings and exciting culture to fully immerse guests into creativity magic, and progressive design. As events take place during the night, days were reserved for exploring the impressive pyramids of Teotihuacan, learning about Mexican history and anthropology at the National Museum of Anthropology, and of course cocktails at Condesa DF’s stylish rooftop. Evidently, MUTEK Mexico City is a playground for the creative mind. Locals mingle seamlessly with travelers and there is no shortage of cultural stimulation.

The Trans-Pecos region is West Texas at its finest, and the journey there plays a large role in why Marfa and Liz Lambert’s Trans-Pecos Festival is so special. For us, the journey started in Austin… 5 girls in a pickup truck, headed west, 420 miles.

A highly anticipated player in the ever evolving culinary scene of Miami has opened its doors this past September. Marion is a grand café, market, bakery, and oyster bar inspired by the simple elegance of European culinary life and design.

Each of the hotel’s five rooms represents a different chapter of Covell’s life, from his humble beginnings in America’s mid-west to his life of literary acclaim and new-found opulence. The stunning Sally Breer-designed rooms capture the intimacy required by the concept, even down to the monogrammed letterheads and perfectly aged portraits that hang on the walls. Chapter One shows a rustic, earthy materiality; Chapter Two captures his adventures as a young bachelor in New York; Chapter Three features the bohemian trappings of a Parisian lover and in Chapter Four, guests will find themselves immersed in Covell’s new-found affluence and the opulence of his literary fame.

I first visited Monterey on a scout for an ad campaign about 5 years ago. Ever since traipsing around Point Lobos in search of a cypress tree with the perfect, dramatic coastal backdrop, I was in awe. A few years later, a close friend from NY traded in fashion week parties for pie making contests when she moved to Big Sur with her future husband. They wed in a breathtaking ceremony at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific; and over that weekend my friends and I hiked amongst towering redwoods, took car commercial-worthy rides along the coast, and basked in the culture and artistic allure that made this place a haven for the likes of Jack Kerouac and Henry Miller; all sharing the itch to trade city life for this blissful, inspiring place.

I haven’t had a love affair like this since discovering Montauk in the early 2000’s; but while the East End has become a bit too Hamptonized for my low-key liking over the years, Monterey Country continues to deliver charm and authenticity while offering up-to-date options for food, culture and beyond.

After a few trips to Big Sur, I decided to venture into Monterey proper this Fall to take on some more touristy adventures. The result is this photo diary slash guide to my top new discoveries in the area. Whether it’s a romantic weekend, girls getaway or family trip – Monterey is a must add to your 2015 travel bucket list.

JHud belted out the classics along with a few new numbers as W launched their new LGBT campaign to end marriage inequality. Under the moniker “Turn It Up For Change” the initiative supports marriage equality across all 50 US states.

The launch took shape as a Vogueing Ball hosted by Lady Fag and Jack Mizrahi while the panel of judges included Courtney Love, Jennifer Hudson, Padma Lakshmi, Legendary Damon, Peter Brant and Grand Father Hector Extravaganza. Music came courtesy of Johnny Dynell.

East London celebrated the close of London Fashion Week with a re-enactment of scenes from the 1968 documentary ‘The Queen.’

The show was directed by Jonny Woo (also playing a Flawless Sabrina), Miss Woo’s wardrobe was by GILES, the M.A.C Pro Team created the make up, WAH Nails the talons, music was provided by Xavier Roide tinkling the ivories and all styled by Matthew Josephs.

26 LIFE LESSONS MY BURNING MAN EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME. Confession: My Burning Man Experience was too full-on to be called fun, says Ruby Warrington. But when it comes to life lessons, a week on the Playa delivered pure gold (an extract from thenuminous.net).

Shut out of the share house? Burnt out on Burning Man? No problem. Get down with our guide to the NYC culture, cuisine and craft cocktail cruises that prove you don’t have to go away to have the perfect getaway.

The World Cup just got a little bit hipper! We can’t keep quiet about the Fat Radish pop-up mansion that runs from June 14th for the duration of the championships. The stiffest competition will be invites to the pool parties. See you there…

The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt sees over 250 large egg sculptures – each designed by globally renowned artists, designers and creatives – placed throughout New York City’s five boroughs (even Staten Island?) from April 1st to 26th, 2014. The Mark commissioned artist Mattia Bonetti, architect Andrew Zientek and Bali based designer Carlo Pessina, to create on their behalf.

We’re off to Hvar in June for this crackin’ little festival in the sun. Look out for Tensnake, Haim, Mark Ronson and Erlend Oye, among others. Stay at the Stone Cottages just outside Hvar. Full line up and ticket sets HERE.

200 artists descended upon the NewActon neighborhood to paint, perform and show their work to an adoring crowd. Hotel Hotel hosted a very special SOUND and FURY event this year with 13 hand picked performance, music, cabaret and live sculpture artists.

A Shaded View of Fashion’s NY Film Festival kicked off to a room filled with fashion, art and cinema’s finest, including food world beauty Padma Lakshmi, fine jewelry designer Jules Kim, photographer Alessandro Simonetti, Good Peoples founder Katie Longmyer, and of course, the star of the evening, Diane Pernet.

Earlier this month, I tagged along with Athena Calderone of Eye Swoon to take in the vivid sights, sounds, and crystal blue seas at Aruba’s Diamond Jubilee Carnival Celebration. Forget what you know about cocktail sipping, laid back Caribbean vacations…this is proof that the “One Happy Island” really knows how to throw down. – Amy Risley

AHL celebrated our first annual awards (and first birthday) with a fabulous mix of creative and traveler types in New York last week. The winners included The London EDITION for Best New Hotel, Goldeneye Resort in Jamaica for Hotel Most Likely to Change your Life, Viceroy New York for Best Design, ACE Downtown LA nabbed Best New Restaurant and NY bon vivant Derek Blasberg picked up the Air Miles Hero gong.

Big thank you to Corzo tequila, La Vie Bobo jewelry and Cuban band Yuniel Jimenez “El Guajiro” who performed live for guests as they arrived. The kitchen at Neuehouse provided delicious bites too with Jamon Serrano and Olives, Salmon Tartar with Wasabi Tobiko on Cucumber and Lobster Avocado with Yuzu Creme Fraiche. Umbrella-decorated Corzo tequila drinks did the rounds including the delish Corzo Reposado with fresh pineapple, lemon and agave – aptly named the Pina Picante along with the Claro. See you all next year!

New York stalwart Glenn O’Brien celebrated the launch of his latest book featuring over 240 confessionals collected during his 2012 performance project at the hotel. AHL asked Glenn if he had a personal hotel confession to share: “I used to live in the Chelsea Hotel, but must confess I can’t remember the room number.” Buy your copy here. Photos: BFA.

We love films shot in cool hotels (see Shinning, Somewhere) and we love even more when it’s an Indie film maker behind the camera. This one features actual, live guests too – look out for the rainbow haired man in the party scene. According to producer Nicole Disson, he was recruited while on the wrong end of an all nighter.

Dream Hotels partnered with Indie innovator Fool’s Gold Records to launch “Dream Live.” The showcase was headlined by A-Trak, Lex Luger and Travis Scott on Friday, March 14th at the Empire Control Room Austin.

South by San Jose (SXSJ), an annual off-shoot festival held during SXSW where the hotel’s parking lot was transformed into a live music venue for a week. This year The Magic Numbers and the Dum Dum Girls held a free performance on Friday, while Canterbury’s finest Syd Arthur performed Saturday.

Not a real hotel, so no check-in, but there was a lot to check-out as the Hype Machine crew enlisted some heavyweight bloggers (see www.yourstru.ly) to supply a five day feast of musical treats. Performances included London Grammar, Haerts and Tensnake.

It’s awards season! The Grammys, The BAFTAs, The Golden Globes, The Oscars…and now…Ladies and Gentlemen, A Hotel Lifers…the First Annual A Hotel Life Awards, where we celebrate the people and places that have kept us excited and inspired since we launched a year ago. (Ooh Happy Birthday to us!)

On April 14, 2014, La Abeja Herbs brings a very special workshop to El Cosmico with “Los Remedios del Corazón”. Held in a teepee at sunset, this class promises a special evening of rich inner vision and reconnection with an ancient heart-centered way of moving through the world. Photo credit: Sophia Rose/Nick Simonite

This four-legged charade starts at noon on March 30th at the corner of Annie’s and S. Congress. A marching band then leads the way as all contestants head down to the hotel’s parking lot for the staged finals. “No Rules!” say the organizers. “Just dress your pet in something fabulous”. #keepaustinweird www.sanjosehotel.com Here’s a selection of last year’s winners…

Nile Rogers treated guests to a 30 minute funk odyssey, while Kylie Minogue accompanied him with an impromptu sing-along to Le Freak. High on life, Ms. Minogue took the party back to her suite. Check out the less than rehearsed corridor performance on her Instagram feed @kylieminogue #lefreak #c’estchic – Photo Credit: Rex Features

Jonny Woo and his troupe were flipping burgers to close London Fashion Week over at the cabaret king’s latest fav East London eatery. When not all dancing in sequence to pop songs from resident music maestro Xavier Roide, they were careening between tables, balancing chocolate hazelnut sundaes and fizzy cocktails. To close, Jonny hosted a game of pass-the-parcel that circled the entire dining room. – Photos: Rebecca Thomas

Salonniere Damian Barr hosted another literary love in, this time with Patrick Gale, Newsnight’s Kirsty Walk and Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin. Listen in (parental guidance advised) to a hilarious Maupin and Damian talk Burning Man, the ethics of Googling for literary research and…Twat Cozies?

Directed by Jonathan Olinger, this quirky video featuring Waris Ahluwalia comes from ASMALLWORLD, which just relaunched as a travel and lifestyle club with privileges including over 500 deals and discounts.